February 20, 2026 | 06:47 am
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung has assured that the local government will intervene to stabilize chili prices ahead of Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr 1447 Hijri. Pramono stated that the administration is closely monitoring the price fluctuations of basic necessities.
He highlighted the rising cost of curly chilies, attributing the spike to a supply shortage from several regions caused by heavy rainfall. "Prices have increased because supplies from Java and South Sulawesi have dwindled due to the rain," he noted at Jakarta City Hall on Thursday, February 19, 2026.
According to the Governor, the production dip is primarily driven by weather factors. However, he believes prices will normalize within one to two weeks as the rain intensity begins to decrease. "I am confident that within a week or two, chili prices in Jakarta will return to normal," he remarked.
To curb inflation, the Jakarta Provincial Government plans to intervene in the market by purchasing chilies and distributing them to retailers or traders with a fixed profit margin. "We will buy the chilies and sell them to retailers or traders, allowing for a Rp5,000 profit to keep prices under control," he explained.
Meanwhile, data from the National Food Agency’s inspection at Kramat Jati Market on February 16, 2026, shows the current price of red bird's eye chili at approximately Rp80,000 per kilogram. This reflects a slight decrease from the previous week, when prices peaked between Rp90,000 and Rp100,000 per kilogram.
Asep, a chili trader at the Kramat Jati Wholesale Market, mentioned that the Rp80,000 price point remains negotiable. He noted that the price drop followed an increase in supply from several regions, including those outside of Java. "If a buyer negotiates for Rp80,000, I will sell it rather than have no sale at all," he said, as quoted by Antara.
Another trader, Ujang, mentioned that some sellers are mixing different types of chilies to keep prices affordable, given the public's sensitivity to price hikes. Joharlis, a chili distributor at the same market, added that supplies from South Sulawesi, including Makassar, reach about 20 tons per day and are vital for stabilizing Jakarta’s market.
According to Joharlis, the distribution cost from Sulawesi to Jakarta is roughly Rp10,000 per kilogram, meaning logistical expenses heavily influence trader-level pricing. He also noted that bird's eye chilies have a limited shelf life of about three days, necessitating a rapid turnover to maintain quality and prevent financial losses for traders.
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